Dementia Care in San Rafael, CA: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in San Rafael, CA: the local picture

2,098

residents 85 or older (3.5% of all residents)

12,299

residents 65 or older (20% of San Rafael)

27%

of residents 65+ report a disability (24% in Marin County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

San Rafael has about 2,098 residents aged 85 or older among 12,299 aged 65 or older. The risk of Alzheimer’s rises steeply with age, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about a third of people 85 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

27% of residents 65 and older report a disability (24% in Marin County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

33% of older San Rafael residents in households live alone. For someone with memory loss who lives alone, a few hours of daily check-ins are often the first step.

San Rafael compared with Marin County and California

Census figure	San Rafael	Marin County	California
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	2.8%	1.9%
Residents 65 or older	20%	24%	16%
Residents 65+ with a disability	27%	24%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	30%	23%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.4%	7.5%	12%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	38%	24%	44%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$104,265	$107,563	—

Older residents in towns around San Rafael

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Santa Venetia, CA	1.7 mi	1,238	228
Larkspur, CA	3.1 mi	3,268	628
Ross, CA	3.2 mi	491	31
Corte Madera, CA	3.4 mi	1,892	253
San Anselmo, CA	3.4 mi	2,745	131
Kentfield, CA	4.2 mi	1,766	249

Nursing homes near San Rafael

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Marin Post Acute	San Rafael, CA	1.7 mi	2 of 5	168	(415) 479-3450
San Rafael Healthcare & Wellness Center, LP	San Rafael, CA	1.8 mi	2 of 5	54	(415) 456-7170
The Tamalpais	Greenbrae, CA	2.7 mi	5 of 5	52	(415) 461-2300
Pine Ridge Care Center	San Rafael, CA	2.8 mi	5 of 5	101	(415) 479-3610
Northgate Postacute Care	San Rafael, CA	2.8 mi	2 of 5	52	(415) 479-1230
Professional Post Acute Center	San Rafael, CA	2.8 mi	3 of 5	99	(415) 479-5161

Hospices serving San Rafael

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
By The Bay Health	Larkspur, CA	3.5 mi	(415) 927-2273
Madrona Hospice Care Inc	San Rafael, CA	5.6 mi	(628) 243-0550
Sutter Care At Home	San Francisco, CA	14 mi	(415) 749-4201
Anchor Health	Petaluma, CA	20 mi	(415) 598-0944

Straight-line miles from the center of San Rafael. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a dementia caregiver can help with

Keeping a predictable daily routine
Gentle help with bathing, dressing and toileting
Meals, hydration and medication reminders
Calming approaches for sundowning, agitation and repeated questions

Cost

What dementia care costs in San Rafael

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 17% of the $8,689 monthly median income of San Rafael households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see How to get paid to care for a family member in California: IHSS, VA, Paid Family Leave.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a dementia caregiver

An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Facts and Figures. Most live at home, cared for by family. The Association’s 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is free.

Questions worth asking: Tell me about someone with dementia you cared for. What worked? What do you do when a client becomes agitated in the late afternoon? How do you keep someone safe who tries to leave the house? More in our dementia care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Dementia Care in San Rafael: common questions

What nursing homes are near San Rafael?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Marin Post Acute in San Rafael (1.7 mi, 2 of 5 overall); San Rafael Healthcare & Wellness Center, LP in San Rafael (1.8 mi, 2 of 5 overall); The Tamalpais in Greenbrae (2.7 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in San Rafael?

At the California minimum wage of $16.90 an hour (the May 2025 median aide wage, $16.50, is now below it), 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,465 a month in wages, which is 17% of the $8,689 monthly median income of San Rafael households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. California's minimum wage is $16.90 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

When does someone with dementia need care at home?

Common signs are missed meals or medication, getting lost in familiar places, unsafe cooking or driving, and a family caregiver who is exhausted. Many families start with a few hours a day and add hours, nights or live-in help as the disease progresses.

More near San Rafael

More senior care near San Rafael

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in San Rafael

More for San Rafael families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in San Rafael, CA